Have you decided to find out which O2 sensor or ignition coil to replace and are having some difficulties?
You are not the only one! A diagnostic scanner can be of great help to you in troubleshooting a car’s issues, but most of the time, interpreting the trouble code from the scanner poses a different problem.
One of the issues is when you receive a trouble code reading bank 1 or bank 2, sensor 1 or sensor 2 as the last section of your trouble code data. But it is not that hard! Let’s break down this problem and figure out what it is!
What is Bank 1 vs. Bank 2?
Simply put, Bank 1 and Bank 2 are used to describe one side of the engine, either left or right. Bank 1 is the side that has cylinder 1 while Bank 2 is the side that has cylinder 2. If the engine is in a transverse position, then Bank 1 is most likely the front side of the car.
Checking the repair manual is one way to find the right cylinder bank. You can also do a little bit of digging for some stamps on the cylinder block/head with the numbers of the cylinders.
The part of the engine where the crankshaft pulley is located is the front of the engine. The side of the engine closest to the crankshaft pulley is not the front of the engine.
In this case, you cannot simply state that bank 1 is on the driver’s side, or vice versa, as other engines may place cylinder 1 in a different location. Given that we drive on different sides across the globe, it is rather confusing and misleading to assume which side bank 1 or bank 2 is located on.
- Bank 1 refers the the side with cylinder number 1 (Cylinders 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 etc.)
- Bank 2 refers to side with cylinder number 2 (Cylinders 2 – 4 – 6 – 8 etc.)
What are Sensors 1 & 2?
The numbering of the sensor indicates the location of the O2 sensor or the exhaust temperature sensor on the exhaust system.
The first sensor is attached to the exhaust pipe of the engine, while the last gas exhaust pipe will be located at the rear of the exhaust system.
In discussing O2 sensors, the following is accurate:
- Sensor 1 = Upstream O2 sensor (Before the catalytic converter)
- Sensor 2 = Downstream O2 sensor (After the catalytic converter)
Some diesel engines have multiple exhaust temperature sensors. They can have numerous numbered sensors, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Here, sensor 1 is the closest to the engine, and the last sensor is at the rear of the entire exhaust system. .
Are bank 1 and bank 2 sensors the same?
They are usually identical for either bank 1 or bank 2. However, this differs based on the specific vehicle being referenced and which sensor is being discussed. Look at a repair manual, or consult a dealer for the correct information regarding your vehicle.
Is bank 1 driver or passenger side?
No. Bank 1 indicates the side of the engine that contains cylinder 1. Usually, it is safe to assume that bank 1 is positioned on the driver’s side, but this is not always the case. Adopting this approach without double-checking will waste your money.
Is bank 2 front or rear?
No matter how you position the engine, the bank has no relation to the front or rear of the engine even if your engine is transversely mounted. Bank 1 is the side of the body which contains cylinder 1 and bank 2 is the side which contains cylinder 2. The O2 sensor could be a front or rear sensor. They will tell you if it is sensor 1 or 2.
Is bank 1 on the exhaust or intake side?
Bank 1 or Bank 2 does not pertain to the exhaust or intak side, so it all depends on what engine you have Bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1 and bank 2 is the side with cylinder 2.
Navigating the various pieces of information concerning the different banks and sensor positions may prove difficult for the average person, but understanding the structure is rather straightforward once the underlying principles are mastered.
In order to resolve in detail all the queries people have concerning snapping banks and sensors, we will present a synopsis of the different locations of O2 sensors:
FAQs.
Where is the Bank 1 Sensor 1 Located?
Bank 1 Sensor 1 or B1S1, is the first sensor (Upstream) on Bank 1, meaning it is at the side of the engine with cylinder numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. Bank 1 refers to it at the side of the engine with cylinder numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
Where is the Bank 1 Sensor 2 Located?
Bank 1 Sensor 2 is the second sensor on the exhaust pipe of the engine (Downstream) on Bank 1, usually post catalytic converter. Bank 1 refers to it at the engine side with cylinder numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.
Where is the Bank 2 Sensor 1 Located?
Bank 2 Sensor 1 is the first (Upstream) O2 sensor on Bank 2. Bank 2 means it is at the side of the engine with cylinder numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.
Where is the Bank 2 Sensor 2 Located?
The second exhaust (downstream) sensor on Bank 2, usually located posterior to the catalytic converter, is Bank 2 Sensor 2. Bank 2 indicates that it’s on the engine side with cylinders 2, 4, 6, and 8, etc.
We hope this tutorial was useful to you and that you know now which O2 sensor you need to change to resolve your issue.